The R1-million plans for restoring the national monument and esta-blishing a tea garden were revealed over the weekend by a small band of enthusiasts. Knysna architect Bill Farrenkothen said his restoration plans were recently approved.
"We can now go ahead, but we need to source the money from donations as well as from the authorities who have money available," he said.
It is the dream of Gerda Stols and stalwart Friends of the Toll House like Ken Gie to restore it to a worthy monument, and at the same time ensure that it is a tourist attraction from where panoramic views over the Outeniqua Mountains can be enjoyed.
A direct descendant of the aforementioned old tolhouse keeper, Charlie Westman (82), did some backbreaking work to erect temporary burglar-proofing and iron doors. This was after the yellowwood beams were carted off by a man with an Oudtshoorn bakkie who systematically stripped them. Furthermore some fiery witchcraft activities at the old monument made the Friends realise they would have to erect iron safety doors to protect the monument. The building erected in 1847, was also in danger of totally crumbling and falling into total disrepair, and the Friends therefore erected a temporary roof as well.
After Gerda outlined the history of the tollhouse, the tourists were gi-ven some bread and witblits to fortify themselves.
She ended off by saying that an old hiking path would be re-opened so that visitors would be able to visit the tea garden, and follow that up with some bird watching on a nearby trail.
Over the weekend, a group of people were treated to an interesting tollhouse tour, which also included visiting Kosie Lamprecht’s motor museum. Topping in the Outeniqua mountains was visited with the powervan after departing from the Outeniqua Transport Museum.
In the evening the adventurous group were regaled with real boeremusiek at Leila’s Eatery. Gie said that this would become an annual institution to draw attention to local attractions.
Gie wants to acknowledge the following sponsors and individuals, without whom the tour would not have been possible: Mutual Safe and Security, Tours of South Africa, Drukkor Printing, Valley Container and Toilet Hire, Leading Edge Signs, Davkor Plans and Plotters, Kwelanga Lodge, Kosie Lamprecht, Vernon's Boereorkes, Allen Duff, Tom Hodgson, Trevor Ankiewicz, Transnet Transport Museum and the Powervan.
At the Transnet Outeniqua Transport Museum, Tom Hodgson's talk and his display of miniature ox wagons and Cape carts had the tour guests spellbound. To add a special effect to the presentation, Trevor Ankiewicz cracked the traditional ox wagon driver's whip and had passing visitors to the museum jumping with fright.
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Knysna architect Bill Farrenkothen, Charlie Westman and Schalk van Vuuren are very enthusiastic about the restoration plans for the old tollhouse in the Montagu Pass. The plans have been approved and recently, so the R1-m project can now continue.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
